Philippines: Human Rights News 02/23/2023
Top News: EU, PH lawmakers in "intense" meetings on human rights; Informants seek cut of seized drug as payment; police #redtagging activists - again; Jeopardy! on Marcos: "Ferdinand Magellan Jr."
“DRUG WAR”
PDEA bares informants seek 'cut' from drug seizures; senator vows probe | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/22/23/pdea-bares-informants-seek-cut-from-drug-seizures-senator-vows-probe
‘Pusher’ killed in Iloilo City drug bust - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/pusher-killed-in-iloilo-city-drug-bust/
Pampanga raids net P754.8m worth of illegal drugs, arrest of 4 suspects - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/national/314307844/pampanga-raids-net-p754-8m-worth-of-illegal-drugs-arrest-of-4-suspects.html
RIGHTS DEFENDERS / EU / ICC
EU worried about extrajudicial killings under Philippine drug war - BusinessWorld Online https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2023/02/22/506338/eu-worried-about-extrajudicial-killings-under-philippine-drug-war/
European legislators meet Philippine senators in ‘tense’ briefing on Duterte drug war — BenarNews https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/drug-discussions-02222023132102.html
EU 'very relieved' to hear PH now working to address EJKs issue | Global News https://globalnation.inquirer.net/211289/eu-very-relieved-to-hear-ph-now-working-to-address-ejks-issue
Dela Rosa to Spanish lawmaker: How dare you lecture us about human rights? | Global News https://globalnation.inquirer.net/211297/dela-rosa-to-spanish-lawmaker-how-dare-you-lecture-us-about-human-rights
EU lawmakers meet with PH senators on Duterte drug war | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/22/23/eu-lawmakers-meet-with-ph-senators-on-duterte-drug-war
Philippines to follow up on renewal of GSP+ with EU Parliament officials | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/861648/philippines-to-follow-up-on-renewal-of-gsp-with-eu-parliament-officials/story/
Bato tussles with Europe parliamentarians on ICC | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/23/2247022/bato-tussles-europe-parliamentarians-icc
Senators, EU lawmakers discuss war on drugs, ICC - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/314307888/senators-eu-lawmakers-discuss-war-on-drugs-icc.html
Jinggoy tinawag na mga 'puting unggoy' ang mga taga-ICC | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/22/23/jinggoy-tinawag-na-mga-puting-unggoy-ang-mga-taga-icc
'ICC probe can continue sans Marcos cooperation' | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/02/23/news/national/icc-probe-can-continue-sans-marcos-cooperation/1879916
EXTRAJUDICIAL / SUMMARY / ARBITRARY KILLING
Despite gun ban, deadly attacks continue in 2 Maguindanao provinces https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/attacks-continue-despite-gun-ban-maguindanao-february-2023/
CHR probes killing of election officer in Sultan Kudarat | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1733505/fwd-chr-probes-killing-of-election-officer-in-sultan-kudarat
COMMUNIST INSURGENCY
NPA owns killings of 2 gov't soldiers in Albay | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1733420/npa-owns-killings-of-2-govt-soldiers-in-albay
NPA leader slain in South Cotabato | The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/02/23/news/regions/npa-leader-slain-in-south-cotabato/1879871
ATTACKS VS ACTIVISTS / REDTAGGING
Lawyer slams ‘malicious, misleading’ police post on Cordillera activists https://www.rappler.com/nation/luzon/lawyer-slams-malicious-misleading-cordillera-police-post-activists/
PRESS FREEDOM
The Rocky Road to Press Freedom in South East Asia | Human Rights Watch https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/02/22/rocky-road-press-freedom-south-east-asia
"Resist dictators", the political struggles of Maria Ressa - Globe Echo https://globeecho.com/news/asia/resist-dictators-the-political-struggles-of-maria-ressa/
JUSTICES SECTOR REFORM / DETENTION
Lowering of bail amount for indigents can free 3 of 10 prisoners – expert https://www.rappler.com/nation/lower-bail-amount-indigents-can-free-prisoners-raymund-narag/
Reducing bail for indigent suspects a 'big win' - expert | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/22/23/reducing-bail-for-indigent-suspects-a-big-win-expert
LGBT / SOGIE
Roman draws line on what Sogie Bill is and is not | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1733531/fwd-roman-draws-line-on-what-sogie-bill-is-and-is-not
\Solons clash anew in House hearing on SOGIE bills | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/22/23/solons-clash-anew-in-house-hearing-on-sogie-bills
Abante accuses UP Gender Law head of bias over 'legal statement' on SOGIE bill https://www.rappler.com/nation/abante-accuses-university-philippines-professor-bias-legal-statement-sogie-bill-february-22-2023/
WOMEN
Women on the rise in BARMM: More seats in parliament ahead | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1733676/barmm-lawmakers-aim-to-put-more-women-in-parliament
Padilla told to publicly apologize over ‘womanizing’ remark | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1733671/padilla-told-to-publicly-apologize-for-womanizing-remark
CHILDREN
Zamboanga Peninsula social workers struggle amid rising sex crimes vs kids https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/social-workers-struggle-rising-sex-crimes-vs-kids-zamboanga-peninsula/
HEALTH / REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Philippines losing P33 billion yearly to teenage pregnancy – UNFPA | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/02/23/2246928/philippines-losing-p33-billion-yearly-teenage-pregnancy-unfpa
COVID-19 deaths exceed 66,000 | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/23/2247009/covid-19-deaths-exceed-66000
LAND RIGHTS
1,321 land reform beneficiaries in C. Visayas given titles | Inquirer News https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1733655/1321-land-reform-beneficiaries-in-c-visayas-given-titles
ENVIRONMENT / CLIMATE / DISPLACEMENT
17 Philippine regions among top at-risk areas for climate damage —report | GMA News Online https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/861738/17-philippine-regions-among-top-at-risk-areas-for-climate-damage-report/story/
1,093 families displaced in Davao flood | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/02/23/2246925/1093-families-displaced-davao-flood
POLITICS / CORRUPTION
Has the Philippines Moved On From Ferdinand Marcos’ Dictatorship? | Time https://time.com/6257017/philippines-bongbong-marcos-people-power-revolution/
Graft court junks ill-gotten weath case vs. FM, allies - Manila Standard https://manilastandard.net/news/314307875/graft-court-junks-ill-gotten-weath-case-vs-fm-allies.html
First, it was Imelda; now, it’s ‘Jeopardy’ reminding Marcos Jr. he’s traveling too often https://www.rappler.com/nation/imelda-jeopardy-tv-show-reminding-marcos-jr-frequent-travels/
Resolution seeking charter change reaches House plenary, faces scrutiny https://www.rappler.com/nation/resolution-seeking-charter-change-reaches-house-plenary-faces-scrutiny-february-22-2023/
Rights groups urge BIR to issue a demand letter to Marcos Jr. - Bulatlat https://www.bulatlat.com/2023/02/22/rights-groups-urge-bir-to-issue-a-demand-letter-to-marcos-jr/
EDUCATION
30% OF STUDENTS HAVE LOW READING COMPREHENSION: City Hall, USAID aim to boost learners’ performance - Daily Guardian https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/30-of-students-have-low-reading-comprehension-city-hall-usaid-aim-to-boost-learners-performance/
LABOR
Gov't, private sector workers seek living allowance | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/02/22/23/govt-private-sector-workers-seek-living-allowance
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Austin reaffirms U.S. support in WPS - Daily Tribune https://tribune.net.ph/2023/02/23/austin-reaffirms-u-s-support-in-wps/
Chinese vessels spotted in PH exclusive economic zone: PCG | ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/22/23/chinese-vessels-spotted-in-ph-exclusive-economic-zone-pcg
Marcos: Australian defense chief visit ‘important part of response’ to China aggression https://www.rappler.com/nation/marcos-australian-defense-chief-visit-important-part-of-response-to-china-aggression/
Philippines, Australia eye joint patrols in South China Sea https://www.rappler.com/nation/philippines-australia-plan-joint-patrols-south-china-sea/